title: Ex vivo expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells.
abstract: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are adult multipotent cells that can be isolated from several human tissues. MSCs represent a novel and attractive tool in strategies of cellular therapy. For in vivo use, MSCs have to be ex vivo expanded in order to reach the numbers suitable for their clinical application. Despite being efficacious, the use of fetal calf serum for MSC ex vivo expansion for clinical purposes raises concerns related to immunization and transmission of zoonoses; the standardization of expansion methods, possibly devoid of animal components, such as those based on platelet lysate, are discussed in this paper. Moreover, this review focuses on the search of novel markers for the prospective identification/isolation of MSCs and on the potential risks connected with ex vivo expansion of MSCs, in particular that of their malignant transformation. Available tests to study the genetic stability of ex vivo expanded MSCs are also analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ematologia ed Oncologia Pediatrica, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, P.le Sant' Onofrio, 4, 00165 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Ester
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bernardo
authors.forename: Angela Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cometa
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pagliara
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vinti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cristantielli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Locatelli
mesh_terms: D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free